Anupama Ratheesh
26th October 2020
World- The United Nations declared on Saturday that the U.N treaty to ban Nuclear Weapons is ratified by 50 countries — allowing its entry into force in 90 days. This move was proposed by Anti-Nuclear activists. However, this was opposed by major nuclear powers like The United States.
According to ABC News, The U.N Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that the Treaty’s entry into force brings together a movement drawing attention to the catastrophic consequences of the usage of nuclear weapons. Guterres also said that this treaty represents a ‘meaningful commitment’ towards eliminating the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations — Nuclear Weapons.
Beatrice Fihn, executive director of The International Campaign to abolish nuclear weapons, said, “The United Nation’s formation was to promote peace with a goal of the abolition of nuclear weapons.” Fihn depicts this Treaty as the U.N. at its best — working closely with civil society to bring democracy to disarmament.
The Treaty calls for the ratifying countries to ‘under any circumstances never test, produce, acquire, manufacture, possess, or stockpile explosive devices or other nuclear weapons.’ The Treaty bans transfers or usage of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and the threat to use such weapons and requires supporting parties to promote this Treaty to other countries. Once entered into force, the Treaty will have all ratified bound by these obligations.
Four countries possessing nuclear weapons — India, North Korea, Pakistan, and Israel — boycotted the vote and negotiations on the Treaty, along with most of their allies.
A U.S. letter obtained by The Associated Press said America’s NATO allies and the five original nuclear powers the — U.S., France, China, Britain, and Russia — ‘stand unified’ in opposition to the potential repercussions of this Treaty. The letter says the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) ‘turns back the clock on verification and disarmament and is dangerous’ to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which is considered the cornerstone of global non-proliferation efforts.
The Non-Proliferation Treaty sought to prevent the spread of nuclear arms beyond the five original weapons powers. The Treaty requires non-nuclear nations not to have atomic weapons in exchange for a commitment by the five powers to move toward complete nuclear disarmament.
Guterres said in an Associated Press interview on Wednesday — “It is clear for me that we will only be entirely safe concerning nuclear weapons the day where they no longer exist. We know that is not easy. We know that there are many obstacles”.
(Sources- ABC News)
Edited by- Sravanthi Neralla